Coun. Bruce LeCren is looking to build on the current successes of council to keep Beaumont progressing into a sustainable future. LeCren believes the current council has made major strides to meet the demands of the current residents and has taken the initial steps needed to build for the future.

The councillor is in favour of going forward with the Aqua-Fit Phase Two, which will have a shovel-ready design ready for the next council, bringing in the UPass for regional transit sooner than later, keeping the French Village Design Guidelines, and is committed to working with the neighbouring councils in Leduc County and Edmonton to create a seamless transition between the communities as well as build a regional multiplex recreation facility to serve the needs of everyone in the area.

LeCren said he is the most experienced of the three people running for council, having served two terms on council, one term on as a director with the Beaumont Credit Union, worked with the Capital Region SW Water Commission, chaired the Library Board, and has served as a volunteer governance and leadership instructor with the Government of Alberta.

LeCren said council has worked for the last seven years to build the Aqua-Fit Phase 2 in time to meet the community’s needs, and that the councils who have worked on the project have shown prudence and care throughout the entire process.

“$30 million for a field house, hockey rink, and gymnasium is hardly a band-aid, and it’s something that the town needs now. What do you say to families now who’s kids can’t get into organized sports? And the people who’s families are going to be moving to Beaumont in the next three or four years before these doors are open? Tell them, ‘sorry, we’re doing nothing,’ or ‘you’ve got to wait ten years and maybe we’ll have something?’ LeCren asked rhetorically.

“I’m looking passed that, not only with the Aqua-Fit Phase 2, but to the next multiplex facility involving the county as a full and equal partner and hopefully the City of Edmonton as well, because they’re going to have residents in that area as well.”

The councillor said scrapping the idea and holding back for later will take more time than people anticipate, which, considering how some organizations have already capped registration, won’t be a decision that serves the community well. The first requirement is having serviced land — and while Beaumont recently bought approximately 80 acres worth of land in the newly annexed area, the position might not be the best possible spot for future Edmontonians or Leduc County residents living in the Vistas.

“I’m not saying there won’t be pressures soon after the Aqua-Fit Phase Two opens and there certainly will be pressures leading up to it opening. That’s why I am looking passed that, to what’s coming next,” he said.

With Edmonton in mind, LeCren is also focused on ensuring that none of the newly annexed lands will be taken by Edmonton without a fight.

“That was a very fair and reasonable request that we made, and the province agreed with us 100 per cent. We’ll talk to Edmonton all day long, but I’m not going to give it away,” he said.

With the lands to the south, LeCren isn’t looking to attract just one type of industry to help offset the 95 per cent residential tax split. The administration and council is constantly working with the Leduc-Nisku Economic Development Association, the county and other regional partners to help attract industry to the area. But before they can start, the municipality needs to complete an Area Structure Plan to determine lot sizes and the types of industries that will be able to utilize the area.

“I’m not going to pitch one type of industry — I want the developers to come there and see what we have to offer,” LeCren said. “We need to bring industry to the table and help right that plan just as we’re doing with the citizens with the municipal development plan.”

LeCren believes the council has been making great strides in terms of consulting residents on their decisions. And while he says no decision will ever have 100 per cent approval by the town, he plans to have a day with his door open for anyone to come in and have a chat about what’s coming up or the decisions that have been made.

“If I’m the mayor, one of the strengths I bring is that I’m retired. If I’m mayor, that’s a full-time job for me,” he said. “I’m the mayor of Beaumont and that’s first, that’s it. I will have some regular hours at the town office where people can come and see me, my door will be open and people can come and talk to me about any issue.”